What You Can Discover Visiting to Erebuni Fortress

Erebuni Fortress also known as Arin Berd is a fortified city from the ancient kingdom of Urartu, located in what is present-day Yerevan, Armenia. It was one of several fortresses built along the northern Urartu border and was one of the most important political, economic and cultural centers of the vast kingdom. The name Yerevan itself is derived from Erebuni.

Erebuni was founded by King Argishti I (r. ca. 785–753 B.C.) in 782 B.C. It was built on top of a hill called Arin Berd overlooking the Arax! River Valley to serve as a military stronghold to protect the kingdom's northern borders.

Erebuni Museum of History in Yerevan

The Erebuni Historical & Archeological Culture-Preserve was founded on May 24, 1968 according to Resolution 225, passed by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

It was created to scientifically validate finds discovered in the three famous archaeological sites of Arin Berd, Karmir Blur and Shengavit, situated in the administrative boundaries of Yerevan. The Culture-Preserve’s main interest is in documenting the history of the establishment of Yerevan. It operates according to its charter to promote scientific information, educational and cultural activity.

Arin Berd as a stategic position overlooking Ararat(n1)

The site of Erebuni Fortress was located atop the 65 m tall hill of Arin Berd as a stategic position overlooking the Ararat plain and the main roads leading to the citadel. It also overlooked cramped Urartian town made up of residences below at the foot of the hill.

The main entrance to the fortresswas located at the more gently sloped southeastern site of the hill. It led to the central yard of the citadel. Ceremonies held by the personal guards of Argishti I and guards of the fortress garrison were held here. In the southwest portion of the yard was a temple of the god Khaldi.

Excavations were carried out at Erebuni in 1952

Early excavations began during the nineteenth century while more systematic excavations were carried out at Erebuni in 1952, under the joint sponsorship of the Armenian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography and the Pushkin Museum's Board for the Preservation and Restoration of Architectural Monuments.

Dozens of Urartian and Achaemenian artifacts, such as pottery, earthenware, belt-buckles, bracelets, beads, drinking vessels, helmets, arrows and silver coins, were also uncovered...

Teishebaini was built by Rusa II in 7th century BC

The city of Teishebaini was built by Rusa II in the first half of the 7th century BC to protect the eastern borders of Urartu from the barbaric Cimmerians and Scythians.

Within the city was a governors palace that contained a hundred and twenty rooms spreading across more than ten acres, and citadel named the Citadel of Teisheba after the Urartian god of war. The construction of the city, palace, and the citadel were not fully finished until the reign of Rusa III, some 50 years later.

The “Junior Archaeologist’s” school launched its trainings for 2016 in “Erebuni” Historical & Archaeological Museum-Reserve on May 4. Greeting the pupils and their parents, the director of the museum Mr. Gyurjyan, represented the main mission of the school, that is encouraging the youth interested in the archaeology, and contributing the valorization of the archaeological heritage by spreading archaeological knowledge.

Within the framework of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, on April 18, 2016 in “Erebuni” Historical & Archaeological Museum-Reserve a temporary exhibition, entitled “Lion and Bull hunt in the Ancient Near East” was exhibited, dedicated to the heritage of sport. The event launched with the welcoming speech of the director of “Erebuni” Historical & Archaeological Museum-Reserve, president of ICOMOS/Armenia NGO Mr. G. Gyurjyan. Congratulating the professional day of the heritage guards, Mr. Gyurjyan made reference to the history of sport, to its development, which was partially reflected in the exhibition.

Within the frameworks of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, theme of which is the ''Heritage of Sport'', ''Erebuni'' Historical & Archaeological Museum-Reserve, in a close collaboration with the ICOMOS/Armenia, is organizing an exhibition entitled ‘‘Lion and bull hunt in the Ancient Near East’’. The exhibition will represent to its visitors some sport events from the Ancient Near East and scenes which prove the existence of the lion and bull hunt in Urartu. In the religious systems of several regions of Ancient Near East lion hunting, sometimes even bull ritual hunting had an important role. These are demonstrated not only in the various scenes of the Ancient Near East iconography, but also in several written sources.

“Junior Archaeologist’s” School of Erebuni Historical& Archaeological Museum-Reserve invites the schoolchildren of middle ages to take part in the spring school launching on April 27, 2016. The course consists of theoretical and practical classes. The duration of the theoretical classes is 2 weeks with the 3 lessons per week. While the duration of the practical excavations is 2 weeks and is carried out in the special educational excavation area near the museum.

On January 26, 2016, a meeting was held at “Erebuni” Historical & Archaeological Museum-Reserve between the directors of Yerevan Municipality “Erebuni” museum, Yerevan History museum, Modern Art museum, Karen Demirchyan and Fridtjof Nansen museums and the acting head of department of culture and tourism of staff of Yerevan Municipality Mr. Ruben Hovhannisyan.

On December 26-27, 2015, within the framework of the open days, in Yerevan Brandy factory, “Erebuni” Historical & Archaeological Museum-Reserve organized a new exhibition entitled ″Viticulture in Ancient Armenia". The aim of the exhibition was to introduce the tradition of the viticulture in Armenia, in particular representing the process of development of viticulture in the territory of Van or Ararat kingdom, begining from the irrigation system, vineyard planting up to the preservation of the wine in the celeries and the usage of the necessary supplies such as jars, jugs, rhytons, plates and etc.

In october 21-23, 2015, “Erebuni” Historical and Archaeological Museum-Reserve took part in international conference on “Earthen national heritage. The soil as a material for the territorial development of Armenia”. The conference took place in Armenian National Library and was organized within the collaboration of the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia and Lyon National school of Architecture. The director of “Erebuni” Museum-Reserve Mr. G. Gyurjyan made a report on “Projects for Erebuni - Yerevan. national heritage, conservation, evaluation and tourism”.

Achaemenid period

Silver Medalions

Ancient wall-paintings

Souvenirs' shop in Museum

In Erebuni museum we have a gifts' and souvenirs' shop inside where you can buy different type of souvenirs relating to a particular topic.

Guest Book

The site of Erebuni Fortress was located atop the 65 m tall hill of Arin Berd as a stategic position overlooking the Ararat plain and the main roads leading to the citadel. It also overlooked cramped Urartian town made up of residences below at the foot of the hill.

The main entrance to the fortresswas located at the more gently sloped southeastern site of the hill. It led to the central yard of the citadel. Ceremonies held by the personal guards of Argishti I and guards of the fortress garrison were held here.